Collapsible veclocipede.



- P. GUTMANN.

COLLAPSIBLEVELOGIPBDE. 4 APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 13,1912.

E 106,939, Patentead Aug.11,1914

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

F. GUTMANN.

G0 PSIBLE VBLOGIPEDB.

APPL ION FILED SEPT. 13,1912.

Patented Au 1,1914.

2 SHEET EET `2.

sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

' EEEDEEI'CK GUTMANN, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

' Be it known that I, FREDERICK GUTMANN, a subject'of the Emperor ofAustria-Hunary, residing atNew York, in the county of ew Yorkand Stateof- New York, have 'invented certain new and useful Im rovements inCollapsible `Vclocipedes, of whlchV the following 1s a speciicatwn.

The present invention relates to vcycle wheels, particularly childrenstricycles, andigure 1 is a top plan view of a tricycle.

in unfolded position; Fig. 2 is a rear end view thereof; Figs. 3, 4 and5 are enlarged details of construction; Fig. 6 is a side vlew v of Atheunfolded wheel; Flg. 7 is a similarl view of the wheel in foldedposition; Fig. 8 is a section on line 8-8 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 9 is adetail.

In the present example I have shown a childrens tricycle, but I wish itto be understood, that my invention may be utilized for all kinds ofcycle wheels, with the difference, that for instance, bicycles havingonly one rear wheel, the'mechanism hereinafter described. forfolding therear wheels will be dispensed with.

With reference to the drawings 1 denotes the front or steering wheelwhlch, as with ordinary cycle wheels, is jourualed in the forked part 2which forms the front part of the cycle frame.

3, 3 denotes the rear wheels of the tricycle of which each is borne inwell known manner on short axles 4. The inner ends of these axles aresuitably fixed to bars 5, 5

. of` each bar 5 is formed with cylindrical sockets 5f freely engagingaround a pivot 7 Specification of Letters Patent. Application filedSeptember 13, 1912. Serial No.l 720,129.

of the rigidpart7, so that the bars 5A are capable of swingmghorizontally toward and away from one another. Normally, that is to say,1n unfolded position of the cycle wheel, the bars 5 vare held in theirextended posi` tion by plate springs .8 which at one end, as at 8', aresecured to the bars 5 and at their mnerends as at 82 are secured to therigid part 7 of the frame. The rigid part 7 is hollow and open at'therear end, sothat the inner ends of the bars 5 extend into the same, and`the side walls of said part 7 lserve to limit the extent to which thebars 5 can be swung apart.

I To lock the rear wheels 3 in unfolded positlon, I provide a cross bar9, which is pivoted or hinged to one ofthe bars 5 and which at itsopposite end is formed with a loop 9 to engage a hook 10 projectin' fromthe opposite bar (Figs. 1 and 2). of such a length that when its loop 9engages the hook 10 it will hold the two rear wheels stretched Ainoperative position. A shorter loop 11 or like member is hinged orpivotally secured to the same bar 5, to which the bar 9 is pivoted, tobe slipped over the hook 1Q when the bars 5 are 1n folded position, i.e. when the same are swung into close proximity to each other, (as shownby dotted lines in Fig. 2).

The central rigid member 7 has a forward extension 12 which with a shortmember 13 forms part of a hinge joint. The adjoining surfaces of thesetwo members 12 and 13 are provided with teeth' 12', 13 adapted to gripone another so as to securely hold the members 12, 13 rigidly connectedwhen the front wheel is in unfolded or operative position.

forations 123, 133 and being a part of the his bar 9 1s Patented Aug.,11, 1914.

hinge joint is screw-threaded at one of its ends and carries a thumb nut1,5 for tightening the hinge. The member 13 is at its front end providedwith a socket 132 which 100 is freely borne on a vertical pin 16 fixedin rthe fork 2, permitting the latter, and conse- A rigid horizontalprojection 1s .extending .from the member 13 is adapted to engage themember 12, when the front wheel is ad-4 justed in operating position andto thus prevent an accidental tiltin of the front wheel., To avoid otherprotru 1n wheel is stored 'and to faci itate .the packing ofthe wheelfor shipment, the handle 19 and the pedals 20 may also be madefoldable."

To' this end the handle 19 is made of two parts which are tiltably borneon the steer-v ing rod 2 of the fork 2'. In operative or unfoldedposition `the two parts of the handle are engaged in lateral notches ofv sockets 21, 22 of which 21 is ixedto the rod 2" and the other 22 iscapable of being tightened in position by means of a. thumb nut 23working on the threaded end of the rod 2. A spring 24' arrangedbetween'the two sockets 21, 22 tends to disengage vthe latter upon theslackening of the nutv23'.

The pedals 20` are adjustably borne in sockets 25 carried by the axle of,the steering wheel 1. The'crank part 20 of the pedals 1s provided withdiametrically opposed lateri' tei-mediate part and flexible rearmembers, Va pivotal'connection between said'front part and saidintermediate part permitting said ally projecting pins 202 which can bemade to engage vertically superposed notches 25 or lateral notches 252.l/Vhen the pedals are so adjusted that their pins 202.-engage thelateral notches then they are in operative position. lfVhen their pins20 engage the vertically superposcd not-ches 25', then the pedals 20which in operative position project laterally, extend vertically and doAnot form laterally protruding parts. Nuts .26

' working on the threaded ends of the crank rods 20 are provided, .whichin conjunction with collars 203 fixed-to said rods 20 will serve totighten the pedals in either position against the sockets`25, (Fig. 4)..Y.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

parts when the riidcentral part, a rear-part, composed-of flexiblemembers, the upper ends of which y are pivotally connected to thecentral part to turn laterally, and a foldable rigid member. between thelower ends of said first named members.

2. In a tricycleyth'e combination with the rear'wheels, of' a 'framecomprising a rigid 1 central part, a rear part, composed of two.4

independently movable spring l.actuated flexible-'members each membercarrying a rearfwheel; affplvoted connection between each memberand-'said central part and a rigid ,'fldable member between the-.lowerends ofv said first named members, said foldable member'being'adaptedwhen in operafv tive position tostretch the saidl wheels apart and.when"lifted to A proach'each other.' A j 3. In' a,tricycle, thecombination withthe rear wheels, of a, frame comprising laterallymovablefiexible members each carrying and mea-ns for locking thesaid members in contracted position.

T4. In a tricycle frame, a front part, an 1nfrontparb to swingdownwardly and rearwardly, pivotal connections between., said `rearparts and said' intermediate part perpermit the latter to apga rearwheel,` a tiltable. rigid member between these members to hold the sameapart,

mitting said rear parts to swing laterally,

-and means between said rear' parts tohold the same apart in operativeposition and to permit their folding position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.-

FREDERICK GUTMANN.

Witnesses: y,

` MAX D. ORDMANN, 'JOHN T. CARMODY.

vwhen in inoperative

